Miss Independent

A bit happened in the last almost 18 months: both good and bad.

Aaron and I broke up in November 2022, after eight years and eight months together. We agreed that I would continue to live at his house until I found one of my own. It took around five months but as of April of this year, I have been living on my own, completely independently for the first time. Ever.

The breakup was amicable but with it, I had to make the final decision to cut contact with my own family who were actively hurting me each time I communicated with them. I spent that Thanksgiving and Christmas with my best friends’ parents who then jokingly “adopted” me as one of their own. I went to their house again this year and they are such kind people, I will forever grieve the loss of what should have been, with mine.

I did not setup the Christmas tree or do any major decorations at home, I simply wasn’t in the holiday spirit. I did string up some garland and battery operated glistening lights in the craft room but that was about it. I did though, send out the Holiday Cards and everyone who received one, adored them. And that’s why I continue to make them.

My UK trip was also postponed due to the breakup, it has been rescheduled for a future date.

Due to privacy reasons, I won’t disclose where I live but still within Indiana, as I am not remote with my work. I had only passed through maybe twice before I drove here for the walk-through as I am renting. The neighbors are kind and quiet. I was very concerned about that as I haven’t rented close to a decade.

I had no idea how long unpacking would take with everything I’ve accumulated over the years: SO MUCH TIME. I’m still not quite done but I’ll get there. Since I don’t have a roommate, I can decorate the rooms as how I’d like to. I have moved my Art Studio into the living room. In my last relationship, everything was tucked away, organized in a small bedroom that also doubled as a home office. Here, it is separated. Home Office stuff is in my other bedroom.

It took me months to buy a TV, bought it on a whim quite honestly. Before I moved, a friend mentioned that she hardly watches hers and I thought she had lost her mind. Now, I understand. I traded my gardening time for learning how to be completely independent. I do however, still have all of my gardening stuff. I don’t know why I decided to keep it all, just that it was mine and one day I will have a yard of my own to tend to.

Since it is 123123 (NYE 2023) I did setup my Christmas tree right on November 1st, as I was making up for last year. I had only been driving my friends crazy since July about the holidays, haha! It’s all still up but will begin packing things up soon.

Sixth Christmas without Mom, that continues to sting. Her birthday is coming up, too. I will be a mess. Gosh, I wish she was still here, she’s missing so much. She’d be so proud of me for not collapsing under the weight from the breakup and falling apart. Mom, I built a bridge and got over it. I also lost a lot of weight. Call it a newfound happiness or determination to live a healthier life, whatever it was – it worked. No diets, no restricting. What really helped: no eating out and cut out soda. OK so maybe I did restrict but that stuff is so bad for you.

I’ve been on vacation for over a week now and still haven’t watched a holiday movie yet. There’s just over two hours from 2024, I may have time to watch something.

Until then folks, have a lovely New Year.

Creative Avenue

I am a full-blown artist. I paint/craft for fun but eventually would love to return selling my wares again. I am still working full-time (no worries there) but it gives me the freedom to be in the creative zone just about every day.

I have a tracker app on my phone where I track how many days I paint (on canvas, rocks, etc.) and I’m averaging 73% of 81 weeks – goal is 2x per week but I usually go at least 4 days a week, with the exception of November – that is Holiday Card Time.

Despite it being the end of July, I am already gearing up for my Holiday Cards. It never fails, I wait until the last minute (late November, early December) to even begin the cards and get so angry with myself. Last year, I started them just prior to Halloween. They are all custom designed, sort of evolved over the years and this year, I plan on keeping the custom aspect, but would like to streamline the process and give my wrists a break. Lol here’s what I do:

• I currently draw out the shapes via pencil
• Then use a super-fine marker to go over the pencil
• Wait for it to dry to prevent smudging
• Erase the pencil marks if any
• Use fine tipped markers for various decorations
• Use a blue highlighter for some lines
• Use colored pencil for other areas
• Use Mod-Podge to dab glue dots, a few at a time
• Carefully shake fine glitter on top of glue dots
• Wait for glue to dry
• Shake off excess glitter into tray
• Spread Mod-Podge to portions, quickly to prevent drying
• Shake fine glitter along the glue
• Shake off excess glitter into tray

And done! Altogether for one card, 1 hour. Times that by 40+ – it can become a chore. Here’s what the finished product looks like:

Holiday Card 2021

Each card had different colored houses, staying within the holiday theme.

What I plan on doing this year is using Clear Stamps on an acrylic block and going that route. As far as coloring the areas – I haven’t figured that part out yet. I was gifted a Cricut Joy from a sister (thank you!) and I used it to help me print out little messages in the inside of the card, definitely helped out a great deal.

I haven’t painted on a canvas in months but I really miss it. Since I showed ya’ll the above image, I suppose I could share more. 🙂

Fancy Rocks – 2022

M&M’s yum! – 2022

Those are the rocks, will share my canvas art I’ve done this year in a separate post. 🙂

Well, I should get back to shopping for art supplies, my typical Friday night.

Have a lovely weekend!

A Sudden Realization

that I haven’t written in over two years. Last week it hit me, and tried (and succeeded!) in restoring my WordPress account. Apparently, I had my old cell phone linked and couldn’t access it. Anyway, it’s all worked out now.

I’m not here to apologize for not writing, as if anyone really reads this. People close to me will understand why and those who aren’t well, it’s fine if you don’t.

Let’s do a little recap, shall we? (might need a tissue or two)

One Year Older!

It is going on midnight as I type this sentence out. Two minutes remain of my 31st birthday, and I am happy to report that it was a fun-filled day. Woke up rather late but that’s allowed, and it is a Saturday too. Clint and I drove to Red Robin for lunch – ate our weight in food, at least I did. He was smart about it and discovered his stopping point. I’m still not hungry and that’s the only thing I ate today. Besides cake, of course. Then we hopped back into the car and drove downtown Indianapolis where we went to Circle Centre Mall and straight to Godiva – for a shake. OH SO GOOD. Wandered around the mall and two floors, visited several

It’s here!

You must forgive me for not writing as much as this time last month. Much has transpired in this short time.

Well, I have my new car here, it’s resting in the apartment parking lot after a long trip/haul here from Pennsylvania. Though I am quite happy it is here – its rather bittersweet. It arrived yesterday by our friend who has been working on it, with many other cars these last six months. I’m thrilled it is here – my Camry is gone. I traded it for the SVX. No more exhaust consuming my lungs anymore.

Pretend Time @ Work & Food Ideas

I tried something new at work: I faked being happy – and it seemed to do the trick. My boss and co-workers noticed the change and asked if I got my car already and if they can check it out. I told them I’ll get it this weekend, but I’m just happy. In all honesty, I was 95% sure I was going to call in sick because I wasn’t feeling good at all. But I knew I should at least make an effort in showing up and make an attempt in staying as long as

Funny + Serious Stuff

The first thought that entered my mind this morning, besides the usual “Do I have to get up?” was “I want White Castle today.” I’m eating my 2nd dinner: the last two of 7 sliders I bought this morning before work. I bought more, for Clint & I. He wanted to try their breakfast slider. Bacon egg slider. OH SO GOOD!

So much for that…

After spending a good portion of my evening finding pictures I’ve taken or that my boyfriend has.. cropping them to the specified dimensions WordPress requires for headers, upon uploading said photos, I discovered that WordPress automatically crops pictures. D’oh! Well, at least I know this now…

Good afternoon 2 January 2012!

The holidays were very nice – could have lived w/o the drama at work but I suppose that’s expected. We set up our tree rather late in the year, discovered it in storage that it was missing a leg on the stand, so we set it up, leaning into the corner beside the front door.

Too much caffeine

There is a such thing as too much caffeine. I proved it – well, now. I can’t keep my thoughts in order and I’m too buzzed at the moment to really complete a single task.

Buzzed as in, too hyper. Nothing else. 🙂